Rick Daugherty, a Democrat, has announced his campaign for the 15th Congressional District.

The kick-off event was held March 28 at the IBEW local 375 union hall in Allentown.

Daugherty said his No. 1 priority is to stop unfair trade and added he sees China and Mexico as the top culprits.

“Since the United States granted China most-favored nation status as a trading partner in 2001, we have lost millions of jobs and have been flooded by products ‘Made In China,’” Daugherty said. “This policy has been an economic disaster for many working families. It has to stop now.

“In Mexico, workers are paid pennies and have few rights. American companies who want to keep production here cannot compete with that. We need federal trade policy that sets tariffs that help us manufacture here, not send jobs overseas. Jobs coming back to America is my top priority in Congress.”

Citing the Economic Policy Institute, Daugherty said, “The North American Free Trade Agreement and giving China most-favored nation trade status cost us nearly one-third of our manufacturing jobs, and over 80,000 factories closed. Yet my opponent wants even more free trade agreements.”

Daugherty believes most voters are beginning to realize the damage that free trade has caused, and said if he and others opposed to free trade are elected, Congress will have enough members to renegotiate trade deals to benefit with more jobs and better jobs.

“This is one issue where I align with the Freedom Caucus of the Republican Party,” he said, “and I welcome the opportunity to work with them. China has been lying, cheating and stealing from us for 10 years, and we sit back and do nothing.

“Congress determines trade policy. It will be my laser focus if elected.”

Daugherty said Congress is evenly divided on trade. Those like Charlie Dent, his Republican opponent, value increased exports to China, Daugherty said. Those like himself see the trade deficit with China as an economic threat that must be reversed.

Daugherty said, “In addition to damaging our economy, it has increased China’s military threat to us. Our money going to buy Chinese products has built their military to a point where China will be able to challenge us soon.”

Daugherty said he will fight to strengthen and improve Social Security and Medicare. He believes the wage cap on Social Security should be raised to ensure solvency for decades more, and he wants a separate Cost Of Living Adjustment measure in place focused on inflation for senior citizens. He felt a COLA should have been provided to senior citizens last year because their cost of living went up.

On Medicare, he said he opposes any type of voucher plan and, instead, wants the system to focus on providing better health outcomes for seniors.

Daugherty’s third main issue is to reduce the burden of student debt. He wants students to be able to refinance at lower amounts and have a higher tax deduction for interest payments. He wants to make college more affordable.

In 2012, Daugherty got 47.5 percent of the vote in Lehigh County, where he and Dent are best known, and spent an average of only 18 cents per vote. Daugherty said he did well because “voters pay attention to issues more than campaign rhetoric, and I believe more voters agree with me on the key issues we face as a nation.”

Daugherty works at a local senior center. He lives in Lowhill Township and has three grown children.

He graduated from Catasauqua High School and Moravian College. He is the former district administrator for retired Congressman Paul McHale and the former chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee.

Editor’s Note: Rick Daugherty is running unopposed on the democratic ticket in the primary election April 26. He will face U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in November.